Who We Are
Mission, Vision, Strategy and Values
Community Dialogues
Community dialogues are aimed at creating a platform for dialogue and debate between leaders, experts, academic and civil society. These debates seek to advocate accountability and public participation.
The Billing System: rates and other services
In a previous Round Table a need was expressed to understand how Rates & Utilities are billed. Mr Albertus from the Debt Management division, City of Cape Town gave a presentation.
2011 Local Government Elections: Does the Councillor serve your needs? Does your vote work for you? What is the role of the Ward Forum?
20 April 2011; Square Hill Community Centre, Retreat The primary objective of the event was to give ordinary citizens an opportunity to engage their respective candidates or political parties on issues concerning them in the local government elections in order to make an informed decision should they choose to vote.
“Municipal Elections: What Does Your Vote Mean?”
6 October 2010, Square Hill Civic Centre - David Daniels, the municipal manager in Stellenbosch, began by describing himself as a “local government junkie.” He explained the post-apartheid shift local government has made to a developmental approach, mentioning the Local Government White paper published in March of 1998. He also discussed the active engagement of communities in the affairs of municipalities as being the fundamental aspect of local government. Mr. Daniels then briefly addressed the subject of the IDP, instructing the audience to view it as a 25-year, long –term plan, rather than a 5-year plan. In conclusion, Mr. Daniels again stressed the importance of community involvement in local government, involvement that begins with the vote.
Debate focuses on ethical leadership
25 August 2010 - By Raphael Wolf -- A second public debate on developing democracy among South Africans was hosted in the Square Hill Community hall in Retreat by non government organisation Democracy Development Programme (DDP). Entitled Ethical Leadership and Political Culture in Local Government, the debate on Wednesday, 25th August followed a similar one, 'The 2010 Legacy: Exploring the Myths and Realities of 2010 FIFA World Cup ('The party's over, now what?'. Southern Mail. August 11.) Speakers were Stacey-Leigh Joseph and David Schmidt, both of the Good Governance Learning Network (GGLN)
“The 2010 Legacy: Exploring the Myths and Realities of the FIFA World Cup"
Tuesday, 27th July 2010, Square Hill Civic Centre - This dialogue allowed people to look critically at the aftermath of the event and whether or not it has made as signifant an impact on the country as we have been told. Speakers included, Dr Dale McKinley and Mr Vernon Seymour.
Building partnerships for community development
24 June 2010 - DDP hosted a follow-up from the Dinokeng Scenarios, looking at the role of Local Government and the IDP process as well as the role of an Advice Office with the Municipality in building partnerships for community development.
Dinokeng Scenarios: How it impacts on Service Delivery
27 May 2010, Steenberg Foundation, Steenberg High School -- Cecyl Esau of Institute of Justice and Reconciliation and Richard Hawekwa Pfaff from the Social Change Assistance Trust were speakers at the dialogue.
Dinokeng Scenarios
28 April 2010 -- DDP held a pilot community dialogue session in partnership with the New Women’s Movement, in an area called the Lost City in Mitchell Plain.
Community Meeting Khayelitsha
Wednesday, 18 November 2009, Khayelitsha, Cape Town - Kutheni lento kufuneka sisebenzisane – Why we must work together in realising health and socio-economic rights. Elroy Paulus from the Black Sash discussed why all three levels of Government – national, provincial and local have to co-operate to promote human rights and ensure adequate service delivery.
The Toxic Mix
Tuesday, September 15, 2009, The Blue Hall, Khayelitsha, Cape Town - DDP and Equal Education hosted a talk by GRAEME BLOCH, education specialist, Development Bank of Southern Africa. Graeme discussed his recently released book, The Toxic Mix, in which he identifies the toxic mix of factors that are causing our education crisis, taking government and teachers to task for not performing as they should and highlighting the socio-economic challenges that many learners face. The seminar was attended by about 70 people cal equality and substantive economic inequality.
‘Striking a balance: Political expression vs National Security’
10 September 2008 - Lead speakers were Barry Gilder, Former Director-General (DG): National Intelligence Co-ordinating Committee & Nic Dawes, Associate Deputy Editor: Mail & Guardian
The state of our democracy: has the bubble burst?
24 July 2008 - The lead speakers were Judith February, Political Information and Monitoring Service, IDASA and Bob Mattes of the Democracy in Africa Research Unit, UCT. A robust discussion was held on a range of issues that in different ways seem to have been threatening the values and practices of a democratic nation.
Seminar: What is wrong with our education system and what can you do to fix it?
The Whitehouse,Khayelitsha, 1 September 2009 - On 1 September , DDP hosted an evening seminar in Khayelitsha on the topic “what is wrong with our education system and what can you do to fix it?”. The speaker was Professor Francis Wilson of UCT.
Eskom: Plunging us into Darkness?
27 July 2011 - DDP partnered with the Retreat Steenberg Civic Association to dicuss electricity provision.
Ward 68 by-election
A by-election was being held on18 January 2012 and it was an inititative of DDP to invite the candidates from the two main parties active in the area, Marita Petersen (DA)and Jonathan Cloete (ANC).
15 years of the South African Constitution
